Outside hitter Alessandro Michieletto showed the way for Italy as they remained on track for a second straight crown at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship on Sunday at the Mall of Asia.
Michieletto dished out 15 points, including three kill blocks for the Italian spikers in their 25-23, 25-20, 25-22 stopping of Argentina.
Their quarterfinal opponent will be known at the end of the encounter between Belgium and Finland.
Argentina stayed in the thick of the fight and kept it tight, 20-all in in the third set.
Three consecutive aces from opposite hitter Yuri Romano brought Italy to match point.
Romano went on to score total of four aces and a kill block in tallying 14 points, while Mattia Bottolo added another 13.
“Every match at a World Championship is incredibly difficult. We saw a lot of surprises, but Italy is still here, in Manila, and I hope we can stay another week. With those three aces in a row, Yuri won the third set alone. So incredible!” said Michieletto.
Earlier, Poland made it to quarterfinals on Saturday off a 25-18, 23-25, 25-18, 25-14 victory over Canada.
Poland, a finalist in three previous editions, overcame Canada’s defense in the fourth set.
Outside hitter Kamil Semeniuk put in three kill blocks to lead his team with a total of 18 points.
Cuban-born Wilfredo Leon fired three aces and put up one kill block, for a total of 14 points.
